U.S. patent application number 11/849568 was filed with the patent office on 2008-07-03 for method to provide menu, using menu set and multimedia device using the same.
This patent application is currently assigned to Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Ho-ik HWANG, Hyun-chung Kim.
Application Number | 20080163053 11/849568 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39304798 |
Filed Date | 2008-07-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080163053 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
HWANG; Ho-ik ; et
al. |
July 3, 2008 |
METHOD TO PROVIDE MENU, USING MENU SET AND MULTIMEDIA DEVICE USING
THE SAME
Abstract
A method to provide a menu using a movable menu set, and a
multimedia device using the method. The method to provide a menu
includes moving a menu set including at least according to a user
manipulation on a touch screen, and displaying the menu set.
Therefore, a user can be provided with a menu which can be
manipulated more easily, and which is displayed with a superior
visual effect on a screen that is relatively small in size, using a
menu set that can move on a touch screen.
Inventors: |
HWANG; Ho-ik; (Hwaseong-si,
KR) ; Kim; Hyun-chung; (Seoul, KR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
STANZIONE & KIM, LLP
919 18TH STREET, N.W., SUITE 440
WASHINGTON
DC
20006
US
|
Assignee: |
Samsung Electronics Co.,
Ltd.
Suwon-si
KR
|
Family ID: |
39304798 |
Appl. No.: |
11/849568 |
Filed: |
September 4, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
715/702 ;
715/835 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 3/04886 20130101;
G06F 3/0482 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
715/702 ;
715/835 |
International
Class: |
G06F 3/048 20060101
G06F003/048 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 28, 2006 |
KR |
2006-136712 |
Dec 28, 2006 |
KR |
2006-136713 |
Dec 28, 2006 |
KR |
2006-136714 |
Claims
1. A method to provide a menu on a display, comprising: displaying
a menu set including at least one icon on a touch screen; moving
the menu set according to a user manipulation on the touch screen;
and displaying the menu set.
2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the menu set
comprises: at least one menu icon indicating at least one menu
item; and a control icon used to input a control command relating
to display of the menu set.
3. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the control command
relating to display of the menu set comprises: a command to move
and display the menu set and a command to change a display state of
the menu set.
4. The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the command to change
the display state of the menu set comprises: a command to enable
the at least one menu icon of the menu set to disappear from the
touch screen; a command to allow the at least one menu icon of the
menu set to be semi-transparently displayed; and a command to
enable the menu set to disappear from the touch screen.
5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the moving operation
comprises: moving a center of the menu set to one lattice from
among lattices on the touch screen; and displaying the menu
set.
6. The method as claimed in claim 5, wherein the lattices are
visibly displayed on the touch screen.
7. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the at least
one menu icon has the same size.
8. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein an outline of each of
the at least one menu icon has the same shape.
9. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the outline has a
circular shape.
10. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the user manipulation
comprises: at least one of touching the touch screen twice and
dragging on the touch screen.
11. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the moving operation
comprises: if the user drags a spot of the menu set, moving and
displaying the menu set so that the spot of the menu set moves by
being dragged.
12. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the spot of the menu
set is the control icon used to input the control command relating
to display of the menu set.
13. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the moving operation
comprises: if the user touches a spot of the menu set and touches a
spot on the touch screen, moving and displaying the menu set so
that the spot of the menu set moves to the spot on the touch
screen.
14. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the moving operation
comprises: if the user drags a spot of the menu set, moving and
displaying the menu set so that the spot of the menu set moves to a
lattice closest to the drag end position among lattices on the
touch screen.
15. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the moving operation
comprises: if the user drags a spot of the menu set, moving and
displaying the menu set so that the spot of the menu set moves to a
lattice placed in a direction of dragging among lattices which are
adjacent to the spot of the menu set on the touch screen.
16. A method to display a menu using a touch screen, comprising:
displaying a menu set including two or more menu icons; displaying
a control icon to control the menu set; and moving the menu set
according to a movement of the control icon and displaying the menu
set.
17. The method as claimed in claim 16, wherein the menu set
comprises: at least two selected from among menu icons indicating
search, game, recording, music, movie, photograph, document and
digital multimedia broadcasting (DMB) menu items; the menu icons
execute commands corresponding to each menu item; and the control
icon executes the command to change the display state of the menu
set.
18. A method to display a menu using a touch screen, comprising:
displaying a menu set including two or more icons having a menu
icon indicating a menu item and a control icon to control the menu
icon; moving the menu set according to a movement of the control
icon; and displaying the menu set.
19. The method as claimed in claim 18, further comprising:
executing a command corresponding to the menu item, if a user
touches the menu icon; and changing the display state of the menu
set, if the user touches the control icon.
20. A method to display a menu using a touch screen, comprising:
displaying a menu set including two or more icons having a menu
icon indicating a menu item and a control icon to control the menu
icon.
21. A method to provide a menu, comprising: displaying on a touch
screen a menu set including at least one icon; and changing a
display state of the at least one icon contained in the menu set;
and displaying the menu set.
22. The method as claimed in claim 21, wherein a number of icons
contained in the menu set displayed in the changing operation is
less than a number of icons contained in the menu set displayed in
the displaying operation.
23. The method as claimed in claim 22, wherein the menu set
displayed in the displaying operation includes a plurality of
icons; and the changing operation includes changing and displaying
the menu set so that the icons contained in the menu set are
combined into a single icon, if a predetermined period of time has
elapsed after the displaying operation.
24. The method as claimed in claim 23, wherein the menu set
displayed in the displaying operation includes at least one menu
icon indicating at least one menu item, and a control icon used to
input a control command relating to display of the menu set; and
the menu set displayed in the changing operation is a menu set in
which the at least one menu icon disappears from the menu set
displayed in the displaying operation.
25. The method as claimed in claim 21, wherein a number of icons
contained in the menu set displayed in the changing operation is
greater than a number of icons contained in the menu set displayed
in the displaying operation.
26. The method as claimed in claim 25, wherein the menu set
displayed in the displaying operation includes a single icon; and
the changing operation includes changing and displaying the menu
set so that the menu set includes a plurality of icons, if a
specific manipulation is performed by a user on the touch screen
after the displaying operation.
27. The method as claimed in claim 26, wherein the menu set
displayed in the displaying operation includes a control icon used
to input a control command relating to display of the menu set; and
the menu set displayed in the changing operation is a menu set to
which at least one menu icon indicating at least one menu item in
the menu set displayed in the displaying operation is added.
28. The method as claimed in claim 27, wherein the specific
manipulation of the user on the touch screen is touching the
control icon.
29. The method as claimed in claim 21, wherein the displaying
operation includes causing the menu set displayed in the displaying
operation to become semi-transparent and displaying the
semi-transparent menu set.
30. The method as claimed in claim 29, wherein the changing
operation is performed if a predetermined period of time has
elapsed after the displaying operation.
31. The method as claimed in claim 29, further comprising: changing
and displaying the menu set so that the icons contained in the menu
set displayed semi-transparently in the changing operation are
combined into a single icon.
32. The method as claimed in claim 21, further comprising: allowing
the menu set to disappear together with menu blocks displayed on
the touch screen.
33. The method as claimed in claim 32, wherein the allowing
operation is performed if a predetermined period of time has
elapsed during which there is no manipulation by the user using the
menu set, or if the user touches a region in which there are no the
menu set and menu blocks.
34. A method to display a menu using a touch screen, comprising:
displaying a menu set including two or more icons having a menu
icon indicating a menu item and a control icon to control the menu
icon; detecting contact of a touch screen by a user; and hiding the
menu icon, if it is detected that the control icon is touched on
the touch screen.
35. The method as claimed in claim 34, further comprising:
redisplaying the menu icon, if it is detected that the control icon
is again touched after the menu icon has become hidden.
36. The method as claimed in claim 34, further comprising: hiding
the control icon, if it is detected that the control icon is again
touched after the menu icon has become hidden.
37. The method as claimed in claim 36, further comprising:
displaying the control icon and menu icon, if it is detected that
the control icon is again touched after the control icon has become
hidden.
38. A method to display a menu using a touch screen, the method
comprising: displaying a menu set including two or more icons
having a menu icon indicating a menu item and a control icon to
control the menu icon; processing the menu icon to be
semi-transparent and displaying the semi-transparent menu icon, if
contact of the menu set by a user is not detected for a
predetermined period of time; and processing the control icon to be
semi-transparent and displaying the semi-transparent control icon,
if contact of the menu set by a user is not detected for a
predetermined period of time after the menu icon has been processed
to become semi-transparent.
39. The method as claimed in claim 38, further comprising: changing
the menu set back to an original state if contact of the touch
screen by a user is detected after the menu icon or the control
icon have been processed to become semi-transparent and the
semi-transparent menu icon or the semi-transparent control icon
have been displayed.
40. A method to provide a menu on a display, comprising: displaying
on a touch screen an execution screen in response to execution of a
command corresponding to a specific menu item; overlapping a menu
set including at least one menu icon indicating at least one
uppermost menu item with the execution screen; and displaying on
the touch screen the menu set together with the execution
screen.
41. The method as claimed in claim 40, wherein the overlapping
operation includes semi-transparently displaying the menu set.
42. The method as claimed in claim 40, wherein the menu set
comprises: a control icon used to input a control command relating
to display of the menu set.
43. The method as claimed in claim 40, further comprising:
displaying on the touch screen an execution screen for the
uppermost menu item identified by a menu icon selected by a user
from among the at least one menu icon contained in the menu
set.
44. The method as claimed in claim 43, wherein the uppermost menu
item identified by the menu icon selected by the user is not the
uppermost menu item to which the specific menu item belongs.
45. The method as claimed in claim 43, wherein the user selects the
menu icon by touching the menu set displayed on the touch
screen.
46. The method as claimed in claim 43, wherein the displaying on
the touch screen an execution screen for the uppermost menu
comprises: displaying on the touch screen an image in which content
among recently played-back content is played back from the last
playback time, if the uppermost menu item identified by the menu
icon selected by the user relates to playback of content.
47. The method as claimed in claim 46, wherein the content
comprises: at least one of music content, moving image content and
still image content.
48. The method as claimed in claim 43, wherein the displaying on
the touch screen an execution screen for the uppermost menu
comprises: displaying on the touch screen an image which is
initiated to play back content among recently played-back content
from the last playback time, if the uppermost menu item identified
by the menu icon selected by the user relates to playback of
content.
49. The method as claimed in claim 43, wherein the displaying on
the touch screen an execution screen for the uppermost menu
comprises: displaying on the touch screen an image on which a list
of content capable of being played back is displayed, if the
uppermost menu item identified by the menu icon selected by the
user relates to playback of content.
50. A method to search for a menu using a touch screen, comprising:
displaying a menu set including menu icons indicating two or more
menu items; detecting whether a first menu icon of the menu set is
touched; executing a command corresponding to a menu item
identified by the first touched menu icon; detecting whether a
second menu icon of the menu set is touched; and executing a
command corresponding to a menu item identified by the second
touched menu icon.
51. The method as claimed in claim 50, wherein the menu item
identified by the first menu icon is used to search for a menu item
relating to video; and the menu item identified by the second menu
icon is used to search for a menu item relating to music.
52. The method as claimed in claim 50, wherein the command
corresponding to the menu item identified by the first menu icon
and the command corresponding to the menu item identified by the
second menu icon are simultaneously executed.
53. A graphical user interface (GUI) apparatus usable with a
multimedia apparatus, the GUI comprising: a menu set including a
plurality of icons having one or more control icons; and a touch
screen to display the menu set and to receive one or more input
commands through manipulation of the one or more control icons;
wherein the one or more input commands changes a display state of
the menu set.
54. The GUI apparatus of claim 53, wherein the one or more control
icons comprises: one control icon positioned in a center of a
matrix of the plurality of icons.
55. The GUI apparatus of claim 53, wherein the display state
changes by at least one of moving a position of the menu set on the
touch screen, changing a number of the plurality of icons being
displayed and changing transparency of one or more of the plurality
of icons.
56. The GUI apparatus of claim 53 wherein the manipulation of the
one or more control icons includes at least one of dragging a
control icon and clicking on the control icon.
57. The GUI apparatus of claim 53, wherein the display state
changes after a predetermined period of time without the touch
screen receiving an input command.
58. A multimedia apparatus, comprising: a housing; and a graphical
user interface (GUI) disposed within the housing, comprising: a
menu set including a plurality of icons having one or more control
icons; and a touch screen to display the menu set and to receive
one or more input commands through manipulation of the one or more
control icons; wherein the one or more input commands changes a
display state of the menu set.
59. A method of using a graphical user interface (GUI), the method
comprising: selecting a control icon from a menu set including a
plurality of icons on a touch screen; and providing an input
command through manipulation of the control icon to change a
display state of the menu set including at least one of moving a
position of the menu set on the touch screen, changing a number of
the plurality of icons being displayed and changing transparency of
one or more of the plurality of icons.
60. A computer-readable recording medium having embodied thereon a
computer program to execute a method, wherein the method comprises:
selecting a control icon from a menu set including a plurality of
icons on a touch screen; and providing an input command through
manipulation of the control icon to change a display state of the
menu set including at least one of moving a position of the menu
set on the touch screen, changing a number of the plurality of
icons being displayed and changing transparency of one or more of
the plurality of icons.
61. A method of providing a menu on a display, the method
comprising: displaying at least one of a menu set and an image on a
touch screen; and changing at least one of a location and a state
of the at least one of the menu set and the image according to a
user manipulation on the touch screen.
62. A touch screen apparatus, comprising: a user interface to
generate at least one of a menu set and an image to be displayed on
a touch screen; and a controller to change at least one of a
location and a state of the at least one of the menu set and the
image according to a user manipulation on the touch screen.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. .sctn. 119
(a) from Korean Patent Application Nos. 10-2006-0136712,
10-2006-0136713 and 10-2006-0136714, filed on Dec. 28, 2006, in the
Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosures of which are
incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present general inventive concept relates to a method to
provide a menu, and more particularly, to a method to provide a
menu through a touch screen of a multimedia device which performs
various functions.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] Recently, the range of functions of multimedia devices has
increased, which has enabled implementation of video apparatuses
with digital technologies.
[0006] Because multimedia devices have many functions, methods for
using multimedia devices are diverse and complicated. Additionally,
a large number of menus are provided through screens for users due
to having so many functions.
[0007] However, since portable multimedia devices have small
screens, it is important to provide diverse and complicated menus
more efficiently. In addition, there is a need for menus which can
be easily manipulated by a user and which have excellent visual
effects.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The present general inventive concept provides a method to
provide a menu and a multimedia device using the method, in which a
user can be provided with a menu which enables easier manipulation,
and which is displayed with a superior visual effect on a screen
that is relatively small in size using a menu set that can move on
a touch screen.
[0009] Additional aspects and utilities of the present general
inventive concept will be set forth in part in the description
which follows and, in part, will be obvious from the description,
or may be learned by practice of the general inventive concept.
[0010] The foregoing and/or other aspects and utilities of the
present general inventive concept may also be achieved by providing
a method to provide a menu on a display, the method including
displaying a menu set including at least one icon on a touch screen
, moving the menu set according to a user manipulation on the touch
screen, and displaying the menu set.
[0011] The menu set may include at least one menu icon indicating
at least one menu item, and a control icon to input a control
command relating to display of the menu set.
[0012] The control command relating to display of the menu set may
include a command to move and display the menu set and a command to
change a display state of the menu set.
[0013] The command to change the display state of the menu set may
include a command to enable the at least one menu icon of the menu
set to disappear from the touch screen, a command to allow the at
least one menu icon of the menu set to be semi-transparently
displayed, and a command to enable the menu set to disappear from
the touch screen.
[0014] The moving operation may include moving a center of the menu
set to one lattice from among lattices on the touch screen, and
displaying the menu set.
[0015] The lattices may be visibly displayed on the touch
screen.
[0016] The at least one menu icon may include a plurality of icons
having the same size. Outlines of the icons of the at least one
menu icon may have the same shape, and the outline may have a
circular shape.
[0017] The user manipulation may include at least one of touching
the touch screen twice and dragging on the touch screen.
[0018] The moving operation may include, if the user drags a spot
of the menu set, moving and displaying the menu set so that the
spot of the menu set may move by being dragged.
[0019] The spot of the menu set may be the control icon used to
input the control command relating to display of the menu set.
[0020] The moving operation may include, if the user touches a spot
of the menu set and touches a spot on the touch screen, moving and
displaying the menu set so that the spot of the menu set may move
to the spot on the touch screen.
[0021] The moving operation may include, if the user drags a spot
of the menu set, moving and displaying the menu set so that the
spot of the menu set may move to a lattice closest to the drag end
position among lattices on the touch screen.
[0022] The moving operation may include, if the user drags a spot
of the menu set, moving and displaying the menu set so that the
spot of the menu set may move to a lattice placed in a direction of
dragging among lattices which are adjacent to the spot of the menu
set on the touch screen.
[0023] The foregoing and/or other aspects and utilities of the
present general inventive concept may also be achieved by providing
a method to display a menu using a touch screen, the method
including displaying a menu set including two or more menu icons,
displaying a control icon to control the menu set, and moving the
menu set according to a movement of the control icon and displaying
the menu set.
[0024] The menu set may include at least two selected from among
menu icons indicating search, game, recording, music, movie,
photograph, document and digital multimedia broadcasting (DMB) menu
items. The menu icons may execute commands corresponding to each
menu item, and the control icon may execute the command to change
the display state of the menu set.
[0025] The foregoing and/or other aspects and utilities of the
present general inventive concept may also be achieved by providing
a method to display a menu using a touch screen, the method
including displaying a menu set including two or more icons
including a menu icon having a menu item and a control icon to
control the menu icon, and moving the menu set according to a
movement of the control icon and displaying the menu set.
[0026] The method to display the menu may further include executing
a command corresponding to the menu item, if a user touches the
menu icon, and changing the display state of the menu set, if the
user touches the control icon.
[0027] The foregoing and/or other aspects and utilities of the
present general inventive concept may also be achieved by providing
a method to display a menu using a touch screen, the method
including displaying a menu set including two or more icons
including a menu icon having a menu item and a control icon to
control the menu icon.
[0028] The present general inventive concept provides a method to
provide a menu and a multimedia device using the method, in which a
menu which the user can more easily manipulate, and which provides
a superior visual effect, may also be provided on a screen that is
relatively small in size, using a menu set the display state of
which may change.
[0029] The foregoing and/or other aspects and utilities of the
present general inventive concept may also be achieved by providing
a method to provide a menu on a display, the method including
displaying on a touch screen a menu set including at least one
icon, changing a display state of the at least one icon contained
in the menu set, and displaying the menu set.
[0030] A number of icons contained in the menu set displayed in the
changing operation may be less than a number of icons contained in
the menu set displayed in the displaying operation.
[0031] The menu set displayed in the displaying operation may
include a plurality of icons. The changing operation may include
changing and displaying the menu set so that the icons contained in
the menu set may be combined into a single icon, if a predetermined
period of time has elapsed after the displaying operation.
[0032] The menu set displayed in the displaying operation may
include at least one menu icon indicating at least one menu item,
and a control icon used to input a control command relating to
display of the menu set. The menu set displayed in the changing
operation may be a menu set in which the at least one menu icon
disappears from the menu set displayed in the displaying
operation.
[0033] A number of icons contained in the menu set displayed in the
changing operation may be greater than a number of icons contained
in the menu set displayed in the displaying operation.
[0034] The menu set displayed in the displaying operation may
include a single icon. The changing operation may include changing
and displaying the menu set so that the menu set may include a
plurality of icons, if a specific manipulation is performed by a
user on the touch screen after the displaying operation.
[0035] The menu set displayed in the displaying operation may
include a control icon used to input a control command relating to
display of the menu set. The menu set displayed in the changing
displaying operation may be a menu set to which at least one menu
icon indicating at least one menu item in the menu set displayed in
the displaying operation is added.
[0036] The specific manipulation of the user on the touch screen
may be touching the control icon.
[0037] The changing operation may include causing the menu set
displayed in the displaying operation to become semi-transparent
and displaying the semi-transparent menu set.
[0038] The changing operation may be performed if a predetermined
period of time has elapsed after the displaying operation.
[0039] The method to provide a menu may further include changing
and displaying the menu set so that the icons contained in the menu
set displayed semi-transparently in the changing operation may be
combined into a single icon.
[0040] The method to provide a menu may further include allowing
the menu set to disappear together with menu blocks displayed on
the touch screen.
[0041] The allowing operation may be performed if a predetermined
period of time has elapsed during which there is no manipulation by
the user using the menu set, or if the user touches a region in
which there are no the menu set and menu blocks.
[0042] The foregoing and/or other aspects and utilities of the
present general inventive concept may also be achieved by providing
a method to display a menu using a touch screen, the method
including a menu set including two or more icons including a menu
icon indicating a menu item and a control icon to control the menu
icon, detecting contact of a touch screen by a user, and hiding the
menu icon, if it is detected that the control icon is touched on
the touch screen.
[0043] The method to display a menu may further include
redisplaying the menu icon, if it is detected that the control icon
is again touched after the menu icon has become hidden.
[0044] The method to display a menu may further include hiding the
control icon, if it is detected that the control icon is again
touched after the menu icon has become hidden.
[0045] The method to display a menu may further include displaying
the control icon and menu icon, if it is detected that the control
icon is again touched after the control icon has become hidden.
[0046] The foregoing and/or other aspects and utilities of the
present general inventive concept may also be achieved by providing
a method to display a menu using a touch screen, the method
including displaying a menu set including two or more icons
including a menu icon indicating a menu item and a control icon to
control the menu icon, processing the menu icon to be
semi-transparent and displaying the semi-transparent menu icon, if
contact of the menu set by a user is not detected for a
predetermined period of time, and processing the control icon to be
semi-transparent and displaying the semi-transparent control icon,
if contact of the menu set by a user is not detected for a
predetermined period of time after the menu icon has been processed
to become semi-transparent.
[0047] The method to display a menu may further include changing
the menu set back to an original state if contact of the touch
screen by a user is detected after the menu icon or the control
icon have been processed to become semi-transparent and the
semi-transparent menu icon or the semi-transparent control icon
have been displayed.
[0048] The present general inventive concept provides a method to
provide a menu and a multimedia device using the method, in which
it is to possible to display a menu which can be manipulated more
easily, and which effectively shows the menu items, using a menu
set which may move directly between the uppermost menu items.
[0049] The foregoing and/or other aspects and utilities of the
present general inventive concept may also be achieved by providing
a method to provide a menu, the method including displaying on a
touch screen an execution screen in response to execution of a
command corresponding to a specific menu item, overlapping a menu
set including at least one menu icon indicating at least one
uppermost menu item with the execution screen, and displaying on
the touch screen the menu set together with the execution
screen.
[0050] The overlapping operation may include semi-transparently
displaying the menu set.
[0051] The menu set may include a control icon used to input a
control command relating to display of the menu set.
[0052] The method to provide a menu may further include displaying
on the touch screen an execution screen for the uppermost menu item
identified by a menu icon selected by a user from among the at
least one menu icon contained in the menu set.
[0053] The uppermost menu item identified by the menu icon selected
by the user may not be the uppermost menu item to which the
specific menu item belongs.
[0054] The user may select the menu icon by touching the menu set
displayed on the touch screen.
[0055] The displaying on the touch screen an execution screen for
the uppermost menu may include displaying on the touch screen an
image in which content among recently played-back content is played
back from the last playback time, if the uppermost menu item
identified by the menu icon selected by the user relates to
playback of content.
[0056] The content may include at least one of music content,
moving image content and still image content.
[0057] The displaying on the touch screen an execution screen for
the uppermost menu may include displaying on the touch screen an
image which is initiated to play back content among recently
played-back content from the last playback time, if the uppermost
menu item identified by the menu icon selected by the user relates
to playback of content.
[0058] The displaying on the touch screen an execution screen for
the uppermost menu may include displaying on the touch screen an
image on which a list of content capable of being played back is
displayed, if the uppermost menu item identified by the menu icon
selected by the user relates to playback of content.
[0059] The foregoing and/or other aspects and utilities of the
present general inventive concept may also be achieved by providing
a method to search for a menu using a touch screen, the method
including displaying a menu set including menu icons indicating two
or more menu items, detecting whether a first menu icon of the menu
set is touched, executing a command corresponding to a menu item
identified by the first touched menu icon, detecting whether a
second menu icon of the menu set is touched, and executing a
command corresponding to a menu item identified by the second
touched menu icon.
[0060] The menu item identified by the first menu icon may be used
to search for a menu item relating to video, and the menu item
identified by the second menu icon may be used to search for a menu
item relating to music.
[0061] The command corresponding to the menu item identified by the
first menu icon and the command corresponding to the menu item
identified by the second menu icon may be simultaneously
executed.
[0062] The foregoing and/or other aspects and utilities of the
general inventive concept may also be achieved by providing a
graphical user interface (GUI) apparatus usable with a multimedia
apparatus, the GUI including a menu set including a plurality of
icons having one or more control icons and a touch screen to
display the menu set and to receive one or more input commands
through manipulation of the one or more control icons, wherein the
one or more input commands changes a display state of the menu
set.
[0063] The foregoing and/or other aspects and utilities of the
general inventive concept may also be achieved by providing a
multimedia apparatus, including a housing and a graphical user
interface (GUI) disposed within the housing, including a menu set
including a plurality of icons having one or more control icons and
a touch screen to display the menu set and to receive one or more
input commands through manipulation of the one or more control
icons, wherein the one or more input commands changes a display
state of the menu set.
[0064] The foregoing and/or other aspects and utilities of the
general inventive concept may also be achieved by providing method
of using a graphical user interface (GUI), the method including
selecting a control icon from a menu set including a plurality of
icons on a touch screen and providing an input command through
manipulation of the control icon to change a display state of the
menu set including at least one of moving a position of the menu
set on the touch screen, changing a number of the plurality of
icons being displayed and changing transparency of one or more of
the plurality of icons.
[0065] The foregoing and/or other aspects and utilities of the
general inventive concept may also be achieved by providing a
computer-readable recording medium having embodied thereon a
computer program to execute a method, wherein the method includes
selecting a control icon from a menu set including a plurality of
icons on a touch screen and providing an input command through
manipulation of the control icon to change a display state of the
menu set including at least one of moving a position of the menu
set on the touch screen, changing a number of the plurality of
icons being displayed and changing transparency of one or more of
the plurality of icons.
[0066] The foregoing and/or other aspects and utilities of the
general inventive concept may also be achieved by providing a
method of providing a menu on a display, the method including
displaying at least one of a menu set and an image on a touch
screen, and changing at least one of a location and a state of the
at least one of the menu set and the image according to a user
manipulation on the touch screen.
[0067] The foregoing and/or other aspects and utilities of the
general inventive concept may also be achieved by providing touch
screen apparatus including a user interface to generate at least
one of a menu set and an image to be displayed on a touch screen,
and a controller to change at least one of a location and a state
of the at least one of the menu set and the image according to a
user manipulation on the touch screen.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0068] These and/or other aspects and utilities of the present
general inventive concept will become apparent and more readily
appreciated from the following description of the embodiments,
taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:
[0069] FIGS. 1A to 1C are views illustrating a movable menu set
according to an embodiment of the present general inventive
concept;
[0070] FIGS. 2A to 2C are views illustrating a process to change a
display state of the menu set according to FIG. 1A;
[0071] FIGS. 3A to 3D are views illustrating in detail the menu set
according to FIG. 1A;
[0072] FIGS. 4A and 4B are views illustrating a process to change
lattices displayed on a touch screen when a user touches the touch
screen according to an embodiment of the present general inventive
concept;
[0073] FIGS. 5A to 5D are views illustrating a process to execute a
command corresponding to a menu item using a menu icon of a menu
set, and a process to change the display state of the menu set when
executing the command corresponding to the menu item according to
an embodiment of the present general inventive concept;
[0074] FIGS. 6A and 6B are views illustrating another process to
change a display state of the menu set of FIG. 5A;
[0075] FIGS. 7A and 7B are views illustrating a process to move
directly to another menu item using the menu set of FIG. 5A while
executing a command corresponding to a specific menu item according
to an embodiment of the present general inventive concept;
[0076] FIGS. 8A and 8B are views illustrating a process to convert
a menu set into a manipulation set and displaying the manipulation
set when a content player and the menu set of FIG. 5A are displayed
on a touch screen according to an embodiment of the present general
inventive concept;
[0077] FIGS. 9A and 9B are views illustrating a process to change a
menu item identified by a menu icon to another menu item according
to an embodiment of the present general inventive concept;
[0078] FIGS. 10A and 10B are views illustrating a process to
display a list of content that has been recently played back
according to an embodiment of the present general inventive
concept;
[0079] FIG. 11 is a block diagram illustrating a multimedia device
capable of providing a graphical user interface (GUI) which is
implemented using the menu set described above according to an
embodiment of the present general inventive concept; and
[0080] FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating a method of displaying
controlling a menu set and an image on a touch screen according to
a manipulation on the touch screen according to an embodiment of
the present general inventive concept.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0081] Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the
present general inventive concept, examples of which are
illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference
numerals refer to the like elements throughout. The embodiments are
described below in order to explain the present general inventive
concept by referring to the figures.
[0082] FIGS. 1A to 1C are views illustrating a movable menu set.
FIG. 1A illustrates the movable menu set (hereinafter, simply
referred to as a "menu set") displayed on a touch screen 100, and
the menu set may include, for example, nine icons.
[0083] The menu set may move on the touch screen 100. That is, the
menu set may move as illustrated in FIG. 1C by a drag operation
performed by a user U as illustrated in FIG. 1B. More specifically,
if the user U drags an "icon placed at the center of the menu set"
(hereinafter, simply referred to as a "central icon") to a desired
position, the menu set may move by being dragged. The touch screen
100 may detect a signal continuing from a location to another
location of the touch screen 100 when a user drags the icon, and
the detected signal is used to move or change its position to
another location.
[0084] Additionally, the display state of the menu set may be
changed. A process to change a display state of the menu set will
be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 2A to 2C.
[0085] If the user U touches the central icon when the menu set is
displayed on the touch screen 100 as illustrated in FIG. 2A, icons
of the menu set, except for the central icon, may disappear from
the touch screen 100 as illustrated in FIG. 2B. That is, only the
central icon may remain on the touch screen 100. Accordingly, the
number of icons displayed on the touch screen 100 may be reduced by
touching the central icon of the menu set.
[0086] Alternatively, if a predetermined period of time has elapsed
without any manipulation by the user U when the menu set is
displayed on the touch screen 100, only the central icon may remain
on the touch screen 100.
[0087] Additionally, if the user U touches the central icon again
as illustrated in FIG. 2C when only the central icon appears on the
touch screen 100, the icons that had disappeared may again be
displayed on the touch screen 100 as illustrated in FIG. 2A. That
is, the menu set may again be displayed on the touch screen 100.
Therefore, the number of icons displayed on the touch screen 100
may be increased by touching the central icon left on the screen by
the user U.
[0088] FIGS. 3A to 3D are detailed views of the menu set. FIG. 3A
illustrates the menu set of FIG. 1A in greater detail, and the menu
set of FIG. 3A may include nine icons. As illustrated in FIG. 3A,
the nine icons may have a same size, and outlines of the icons may
have a same circular shape.
[0089] An icon in the center of the menu set may be a "control
icon", and the other eight icons, excluding the icon on the center
from the menu set, may be "menu icons". The control icon may
correspond to the central icon described in FIG. 1A.
[0090] The "menu icons" refer to icons indicating menu items (that
is, icons used to input commands to execute commands corresponding
to menu items), and the menu icons of FIG. 3A include icons
indicating search, game, recording, music, movie, photograph,
document and digital multimedia broadcasting (DMB) menu items.
[0091] The "control icon" is used to input a "control command
relating to display of the menu set".
[0092] The "control command relating to display of the menu set"
may include a "command to move the menu set", a "command to change
the display state of the menu set", or other commands. For example,
the user U may drag the control icon (central icon) to the desired
position in response to the "command to move the menu set".
[0093] Additionally, the "command to change the display state of
the menu set" causes the menu icons to disappear from the touch
screen 100 by touching the control icon (central icon) of the menu
set, or enables the menu icons that have disappeared to again be
displayed on the touch screen 100 by touching the control icon left
on the screen. Accordingly, the display state of the menu set may
be identified by appearance or disappearance of a portion of the
icons contained in the menu set.
[0094] FIG. 3A illustrates a lattice pattern at regular intervals
on the touch screen 100. Positions in which the icons of the menu
set are displayed may be identified by the lattice pattern.
[0095] Accordingly, if the user U starts to drag the control icon
as illustrated in FIG. 3B and stops to drag the control icon as
illustrated in FIG. 3C, the control icon may move to a lattice
placed at the drag end position as illustrated in FIG. 3D and the
menu icons may move to lattices neighboring the control icon, and
thus the menu set may be moved.
[0096] If there is no lattice at the drag end position, the control
icon may move to a lattice closest to the drag end position, and
the menu icons may move to lattices neighboring the control icon.
The menu set may thereby be moved.
[0097] If dragging is terminated before the user U ends dragging as
illustrated in FIG. 3C, the menu icons may be displayed
semi-transparently at lattices in which the menu icons may be
placed.
[0098] The process to move the menu set by the dragging operation
of the user U was described above. However, the menu set may be
moved by operations other than the dragging operation of the user
U.
[0099] For example, if the user U touches the control icon as
illustrated in FIG. 3B, and then touches another lattice in which
the control icon is not placed as illustrated in FIG. 3C, the
control icon may move to the other touched lattice and the menu
icons may move to lattices neighboring the control icon as
illustrated in FIG. 3D, and accordingly it is possible to move the
menu set.
[0100] Alternatively, if the user U touches the control icon and
then drags the control icon a short distance in a specific
direction, the control icon may move to a lattice placed in the
specific direction among lattices adjacent to the control icon, and
the menu icons may move to lattices neighboring the control icon,
and accordingly it is possible to move the menu set.
[0101] Hereinafter, a process to change lattices displayed on the
touch screen 100 when the user U touches the touch screen 100 will
be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 4A and 4B.
[0102] In FIG. 4A, a size of the lattice touched by the user U may
become larger than those of other lattices. Additionally, lattices
closest to the touched lattice (lattices placed at an upper edge, a
lower edge, a left edge and a right edge of the touched lattice)
may be smaller than the touched lattice, but may be larger than
other lattices, excluding the touched lattice.
[0103] Accordingly, when the user U touches the touch screen 100,
the sizes of lattices appearing on the touch screen 100 may be
changed. The touched lattice, the lattices closest to the touched
lattice, and lattices adjacent to the lattices closest to the
touched lattice are ordered in size from largest to smallest.
[0104] In addition, if the user U touches the menu icon as
illustrated in FIG. 4B, the sizes of lattices adjacent to the menu
set may be changed. Specifically, the sizes of lattices closest to
the menu set (lattices placed at an upper edge, a lower edge, a
left edge and a right edge of the menu set) may become larger.
Lattices adjacent to the lattices closest to the menu set (lattices
placed at an upper edge, a lower edge, a left edge and a right edge
of the lattices closest to the menu set) may be slightly smaller in
size than the lattices closest to the menu set.
[0105] Hereinafter, a process to execute a command corresponding to
a menu item identified by a menu icon using the menu icon of the
menu set, and a process to change the display state of the menu set
when executing the command corresponding to the menu item will be
described in detail with reference to FIGS. 5A to 5D.
[0106] If the user U touches a menu icon, a command corresponding
to a menu item identified by the menu icon may be executed. For
example, if the user U touches a movie menu icon as illustrated in
FIG. 5A, the movie menu item may be actuated, and a moving image
player may appear on the touch screen 100 in response to selection
of the movie menu item, as illustrated in FIG. 5B. Additionally,
the menu set may become semi-transparent to allow the user to view
a moving image played back through the moving image player.
[0107] If the user U does not perform any manipulation for a
predetermined period of time after the moving image player appears,
only the semi-transparent control icon may be left on the touch
screen 100, as illustrated in FIG. 5C. That is, the
semi-transparent menu icons may disappear from the touch screen
100.
[0108] If the user U touches the semi-transparent central icon when
the semi-transparent menu set is displayed on the touch screen 100
together with the moving image player as illustrated in FIG. 5B,
only the semi-transparent control icon may also appear on the touch
screen 100, as illustrated in FIG. 5C.
[0109] In addition, if the user U touches the semi-transparent
control icon as illustrated in FIG. 5D when the semi-transparent
control icon is displayed on the touch screen 100 together with the
moving image player as illustrated in FIG. 5C, the semi-transparent
menu set may again appear on the touch screen 100 as illustrated in
FIG. 5B.
[0110] Another process to change the display state of the menu set
is described in detail below with reference to FIGS. 6A and 6B.
[0111] If there is no manipulation by the user U for a
predetermined period of time in a situation when the menu set is
displayed on the touch screen 100, the menu set may become
semi-transparent (or faintly visible) as illustrated in FIG.
6A.
[0112] Additionally, if the user U touches the semi-transparent
control icon when the semi-transparent menu set is displayed on the
touch screen 100 as illustrated in FIG. 6A, the non-transparent (or
clearly visible) menu set may again appear on the touch screen 100
as illustrated in FIG. 6B.
[0113] Alternatively, if the user U does not perform any
manipulation for a predetermined period of time in a situation when
the semi-transparent menu set is displayed on the touch screen 100
as illustrated in FIG. 6A, only the semi-transparent control icon
may remain on the touch screen 100.
[0114] Alternatively, if the user U does not perform any
manipulation for a predetermined period of time in a situation when
the semi-transparent menu set is displayed on the touch screen 100
as illustrated in FIG. 6A, the semi-transparent menu set may
disappear from the touch screen 100.
[0115] The above-described processes may be applied to a situation
in which the semi-transparent menu set is displayed on the touch
screen 100 along with an execution screen corresponding to a
specific menu item. Specifically, if there is no manipulation by
the user U for a predetermined period of time in a situation when
the semi-transparent menu set is displayed on the touch screen 100
along with the execution screen, menu blocks displayed on the
execution screen may disappear together with the menu set.
[0116] For example, if the user U does not perform any manipulation
for a predetermined period of time in a situation when the moving
image player in response to the selection of the movie menu item is
displayed on the touch screen 100 together with the
semi-transparent menu set as illustrated in FIG. 5B, the menu
blocks at the bottom of the touch screen 100 of FIG. 5B, which are
required to play back the moving image, may disappear together with
the semi-transparent menu set.
[0117] If the user U touches regions on the touch screen 100 in
which the menu blocks and menu set are not displayed, the menu
blocks together with the menu set may also disappear.
[0118] A process to move directly to another menu item using the
menu set while executing a command corresponding to a specific menu
item will now be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 7A and
7B.
[0119] FIG. 7A illustrates the touch screen 100 on which the moving
image player appears in response to the selection of the movie menu
item. The menu set is displayed in semi-transparent form on the
touch screen 100. That is, the menu set is displayed overlapping
with the moving image player.
[0120] The menu set may include a control icon and menu icons
indicating the uppermost menu items. Accordingly, the menu items
identified by the menu icons of the menu set, for example search,
game, recording, music, movie, photograph, document and DMB menu
items, may be the uppermost menu items.
[0121] If the menu icons of the menu set displayed on the touch
screen 100 are identical with each other regardless of the type of
execution screen displayed on the touch screen 100, the user may
execute a command corresponding to the uppermost menu item, other
than the uppermost menu item to which a currently executed screen
belongs, and may enable an execution screen for the uppermost menu
item to be activated on the touch screen 100, without searching for
a menu item several times.
[0122] Accordingly, the user U may touch the menu icon appearing on
the menu set, and thus an execution screen for an uppermost menu
item identified by the touched menu icon may be displayed on the
touch screen 100.
[0123] For example, if the user U touches the icon indicating the
music menu item when the moving image player together with the menu
set are displayed on the touch screen 100 as illustrated in FIG.
7A, an audio player may appear on the touch screen 100 in response
to the selection of the music menu item as illustrated in FIG.
7B.
[0124] In the same manner, if the user U touches the icon
indicating the movie menu item when the audio player together with
the menu set are displayed on the touch screen 100 as illustrated
in FIG. 7B, the moving image player may appear on the touch screen
100 in response to the selection of the movie menu item as
illustrated in FIG. 7A.
[0125] If an icon indicating a menu item relating to content
playback is touched by the user U, it is possible to directly
display on the touch screen 100 a content player which plays back
content among recently played-back content from the last playback
time through a content player in response to the selection of the
menu item, or another content player which is initiated to play
back content starting from the last playback time.
[0126] Additionally, if a menu icon touched by the user U is the
icon indicating the menu item relating to content playback, a list
of content playable in a content player may be directly displayed
on the touch screen 100.
[0127] Content, herein, may refer to a moving image such as music
or a movie, or a still image such as a picture. The menu icon for
each type of content may be a music menu icon, a movie menu icon or
a picture menu icon.
[0128] Hereinafter, a process to convert the menu set into a
manipulation set and displaying the manipulation set when the
content player and menu set are displayed on the touch screen 100
will be described with reference to FIGS. 8A and 8B. The
manipulation set may be a combination of manipulation icons to
input commands relating to content playback.
[0129] If the user U touches the control icon for a sustained
period of time when the audio player appears on the touch screen
100 along with the menu set as illustrated in FIG. 8A, the menu set
may be converted into the manipulation set to operate the audio
player as illustrated in FIG. 8B. The action "sustained touch" is
an action in which fingers of the user U remain in contact with the
icon for a predetermined period of time after the fingers of the
user U has come into contact with the icon.
[0130] If the user U touches a manipulation icon placed at the
center of the manipulation set for a sustained period of time when
the audio player along with the manipulation set are displayed on
the touch screen 100 as illustrated in FIG. 8B, the manipulation
set may change back to the menu set illustrated in FIG. 8A.
[0131] Referring to FIG. 8A, the manipulation set of the audio
player may include five manipulation icons. In addition, the five
manipulation icons may have the same size, and outlines of the
icons may have the same circular shape.
[0132] Additionally, the size and outline shape of the manipulation
icons may be the same as those of the menu icons (or the control
icon). If needed, the size and outline shape of the manipulation
icons may be different from those of the menu icons (or the control
icon).
[0133] Referring to FIG. 8B, the manipulation set of the audio
player may include manipulation icons to input a Music
playback/stop command, a fast-forward command, a rewind command, a
volume-up command and a volume-down command.
[0134] However, the manipulation set may include different types of
manipulation icons according to the type of content player. For
example, a manipulation set for a DMB player may include
manipulation icons to input a volume-up command, a volume-down
command, a channel-up command and a channel-down command.
[0135] The moving image player may have the same manipulation set
as that of the audio player.
[0136] A process to change a menu item identified by a menu icon to
another menu item will be now described in detail with reference to
FIGS. 9A and 9B.
[0137] If the user U touches a menu icon for a sustained period of
time when the menu set is displayed on the touch screen 100 as
illustrated in FIG. 9A, a menu list may be displayed on a region
neighboring the touched menu icon as illustrated in FIG. 9B. At
this time, if the user U touches one menu item from among menu
items of the menu list, the menu icon may change to an icon
indicating the touched menu item.
[0138] For example, if the user U touches a radio menu item from
among menu items of the menu list displayed after the user U
touches the music menu icon for a sustained period of time as
illustrated in FIG. 9B, the music menu icon may be changed to a
radio menu icon indicating the radio menu item.
[0139] Hereinafter, a process to display a list of content that has
been recently played back will be described in detail with
reference to FIGS. 10A and 10B.
[0140] If the user U touches for a sustained period of time a
lattice in which the menu set does not exist when the lattices are
arranged and displayed on the touch screen 100 as illustrated in
FIG. 10A, the "list of content that has been recently played back"
(hereinafter, simply referred to as a "content list") may be
displayed on a region adjacent to the touched lattice as
illustrated in FIG. 10B. In this situation, if the user U touches
the content selected from among the content of the content list,
the touched content may be played back.
[0141] For example, if the user U touches "Superman.avi" from among
the content of the content list displayed after touching for a
sustained period of time an optional lattice from among lattices
displayed on the touch screen 100 as illustrated in FIG. 10B, a
moving image player which plays back the "Superman.avi" may appear
on the touch screen 100.
[0142] The lattice touched for a sustained period of time by the
user U may become larger than other lattices, as illustrated in
FIG. 10B. Additionally, lattices closest to the lattice touched for
a sustained period of time (lattices placed at an upper edge, a
lower edge, a left edge and a right edge of the lattice touched for
a sustained period of time) may be smaller than the lattice touched
for a sustained period of time, but larger than other lattices
except for the lattice touched for a sustained period of time.
[0143] For example, when the user U touches the touch screen 100
for a sustained period of time, the sizes of lattices appearing on
the touch screen 100 may change. The lattice touched for a
sustained period of time, the lattices closest to the lattice
touched for a sustained period of time, and lattices adjacent to
the lattices closest to the lattice touched for a sustained period
of time are ordered in size from largest to smallest.
[0144] It is possible to display a list of newly acquired content
or a list of content with a high playback frequency, in addition to
the list of content that has been recently played back.
Additionally, the user U may set the type of lists displayed when
the user U touches for a sustained period of time the lattice in
which the menu set does not exist.
[0145] Furthermore, if the user U touches for a sustained period of
time the lattice in which the menu set does not exist, a list of
Internet websites that have been recently accessed or a list of
Internet websites a user frequently accesses may also be displayed
on the touch screen 100.
[0146] FIG. 11 is a block diagram of a multimedia device capable of
providing a graphical user interface (GUI) which is implemented
using the menu set described above. In FIG. 11, the multimedia
device includes a multimedia function block 210, a GUI unit 220, a
touch screen 230, and a controller 240.
[0147] The multimedia function block 210 may perform original
functions of the multimedia device, such as file searching, game,
recoding, music playback, movie playback, picture playback,
document preparation, DMB playback or other functions.
[0148] The multimedia function block 210 may receive a signal
corresponding to an image from an external device through a wire or
wireless network connection. The multimedia function block 210 may
have an internal signal source, such as a memory or a reproducing
device, to generate a signal corresponding to an image.
[0149] The GUI unit 220 may add a GUI implemented using the menu
set to an image generated by the multimedia function block 210.
[0150] The image to which the GUI implemented using the menu set
output from the GUI unit 220 is added may be displayed on the touch
screen 230. Additionally, the touch screen 230 is used to input the
actions of the user U, such as "touch", "sustained touch", "drag"
or other actions.
[0151] The controller 240 may control operations to perform
functions of the multimedia function block 210 according to a
user's manipulation input through the touch screen 230 or
manipulating units (not illustrated).
[0152] Additionally, the controller 240 may control the GUI unit
220 so that a GUI provided in response to the user's manipulation
may be displayed on the touch screen 230.
[0153] Specifically, if a user inputs through the touch screen 230
a command to move the menu set, the controller 240 may control the
GUI unit 220 so that the menu set may be moved and displayed in
response to the input command.
[0154] If the user inputs through the touch screen 230 a command to
change the display state of the menu set, the controller 240 may
control the GUI unit 220 so that the display state of the menu set
may be changed and the menu set may be displayed in response to the
input command.
[0155] In addition, if the user does not input any manipulation
command for a predetermined period of time through the touch screen
230, the controller 240 may also control the GUI unit 220 so that
the display state of the menu set may be changed and the menu set
may be displayed.
[0156] Furthermore, if the user touches a lattice displayed on the
touch screen 230, the controller 240 may permit the GUI unit 220 to
change the display state of lattices, or to display the menu list
or the content list on a region neighboring the touched
lattice.
[0157] The controller 240 may also control the GUI unit 220 so that
the menu set may be converted into the manipulation set and the
converted manipulation set may be displayed. In addition, the
controller 240 may control the operations to perform functions of
the multimedia function block 210 so that a command corresponding
to the menu item touched by the user can be executed.
[0158] When power is on, the touch screen 230 displays, for
example, at least one of a menu set and an image corresponding to a
signal from the multimedia function block 210 or a signal
internally generated from a unit disposed in the touch screen
230.
[0159] The touch screen 230 may have a function unit to perform the
functions and operations of the controller 240 and the GUI unit 220
to display and control an image and/or icons on a touch screen
device thereof. Accordingly, the touch screen 230 can be connected
to the multimedia function block 210 to display and control the
touch screen device.
[0160] FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating a method of displaying
controlling a menu set and an image on a touch screen 230 according
to a manipulation on the touch screen 230 according to an
embodiment of the present general inventive concept. Referring to
FIG. 12, in operation 121, at least one of a menu set and an image
on a touch screen is displayed. In operation 122, a user
manipulation on the touch screen is detected. In operation 123, at
least one of a location and a state of the at least one of the menu
set and the image according to a user manipulation on the touch
screen is moved and/or changed.
[0161] The present general inventive concept can also be embodied
as computer-readable codes on a computer-readable medium. The
computer-readable medium can include a computer-readable recording
medium and a computer-readable transmission medium. The
computer-readable recording medium is any data storage device that
can store data that can be thereafter read by a computer system.
Examples of the computer-readable recording medium include
read-only memory (ROM), random-access memory (RAM), CD-ROMs,
magnetic tapes, floppy disks, and optical data storage devices. The
computer-readable recording medium can also be distributed over
network coupled computer systems so that the computer-readable code
is stored and executed in a distributed fashion. The
computer-readable transmission medium can transmit carrier waves or
signals (e.g., wired or wireless data transmission through the
Internet). Also, functional programs, codes, and code segments to
accomplish the present general inventive concept can be easily
construed by programmers skilled in the art to which the present
general inventive concept pertains.
[0162] As described above, according to various exemplary
embodiments of the present general inventive concept, a user can be
provided with a menu which can be manipulated more easily, and
which is displayed with a superior visual effect on a screen that
is relatively small in size, using a menu set that can move on a
touch screen.
[0163] According to various exemplary embodiments of the present
general inventive concept, a menu which the user can more easily
manipulate, and which provides a superior visual effect, may also
be provided on a screen that is relatively small in size, using a
menu set the display state of which may change.
[0164] Furthermore, according to various exemplary embodiments of
the present general inventive concept, it is also to possible to
display a menu which can be manipulated more easily, and which
effectively shows the menu items, using a menu set which may move
directly between the uppermost menu items.
[0165] Although various embodiments of the present general
inventive concept have been illustrated and described, it will be
appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in
these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit
of the general inventive concept, the scope of which is defined in
the appended claims and their equivalents.
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